John David Dyche Bemoans "These []Times That Try Kentucky Republican Souls".
Kentucky Democrats fail to provide leadership
Written by John David Dyche
These are times that try Kentucky Republican souls. As one dispiriting campaign season draws mercifully to a close, another has already begun.
Polls show David Williams — the state’s most effective GOP legislator ever, perhaps Frankfort’s most knowledgeable policy person, and author of a progressive issues platform — trailing incumbent Steve Beshear badly for governor. Why? Williams is not nice enough. Williams would be a strong, progressive Republican governor like Louie Nunn. Revered now, Nunn was not exactly Mister Rogers. But in today’s overly sensitive, touchy-feely society, it is a liability for a politician to possess the personality strength successful leadership requires.
Beshear has done little and aspires to less. He crapped out on expanded gambling. He boasts of balancing state budgets, but needed federal bailout billions to do it. He shamelessly exaggerates job creation facts. He winks at his finance secretary’s improper fund-raising.
“Status Quo Steve” is the antithesis of activist Democratic governors past. He hid behind the troops at Fancy Farm, dodges debates and lacks any agenda. But Beshear matches the mood of voters who disdain government except for their own benefits.
So Kentuckians content with their poor economy, education, health and living standards seem prepared to re-elect Beshear and practically revel in the prospect of four more years of mediocrity. Surrounding states will advance dynamic Republican leadership while Kentucky deservedly stagnates.
As for lieutenant governor, the press relentlessly pounds Republican Richie Farmer while giving Democrat Jerry Abramson a free pass. Farmer opened the door to his demise from folk hero to flame-out with petty mismanagement as agriculture commissioner, but Abramson failed on a grander scale in his last term as Louisville mayor. Inexplicably, he still enjoys immunity from meaningful media scrutiny.
If Democrats do retain power, there should at least be a Republican positioned to exercise oversight. But the GOP auditor candidate, John Kemper, is in personal bankruptcy. Lots of GOP voters will back entrepreneurial Democrat Adam Edelen despite his having been Beshear’s chief of staff.
That leaves attorney general. GOP nominee Todd P’Pool drew impressive Democratic support as Hopkins County prosecutor. He hopes for more now by campaigning against President Obama and brandishing the state Fraternal Order of Police endorsement.
Democratic incumbent Jack Conway is a product of other people’s ambition. He spent most of his term running an awful, losing campaign for U.S. Senate. Now Conway claims, with characteristic insincerity, to have had an epiphany that attorney general is the right place for him after all.
Conway’s visage is inescapable as he inserts himself into almost every public controversy. He bristles at fair questions about his allegedly improper involvement in his brother’s criminal drug investigation, takes credit for cases begun by his predecessor and forgets his failed publicity-seeking suits alleging gasoline price-gouging.
Further down ballot, the Republican secretary of state candidate, tea party automaton Bill Johnson, stands little chance against Democratic rising star Alison Lundergan Grimes. Her ad with her grandmothers is Kentucky’s best since Mitch McConnell’s 1984 “hound dog” spot. Grimes is also easy on the eyes, which seems sexist to say, but is undeniably relevant to success in Kentucky’s superficial politics. Indeed, how else can one credibly explain the ineffectual Conway’s continued viability?
Republicans have an appealing and well-qualified contender of their own in treasurer hopeful K. C. Crosbie. The Lexington councilwoman seeks to unseat Democrat Todd Hollenbach and become the first GOP female elected statewide. Hollenbach enjoys better name recognition, has done nothing to disqualify himself from re-election to the obscure post, and benefits from Beshear’s lead and late campaign clutter on the airwaves.
With trepidation, many Democrats will support the clearly more qualified Republican, James Comer, over Bob Farmer for agriculture commissioner. Comer could emerge as the GOP gubernatorial frontrunner for 2015. The Democratic early line favors a ticket of House Speaker Greg Stumbo and Grimes over an Abramson-Edelen pairing.
The 2012 presidential picture compounds Kentucky Republican frustration. President Obama is failing and vulnerable, but so is the GOP field. Any Republican nominee will win Kentucky, but the fear is that none can win nationally. Kentucky and America both desperately need better executive leadership. Unfortunately for both, Republicans do not appear positioned to provide it.
John David Dyche is a Louisville attorney who writes a political column on alternating Tuesdays in Forum His views are his own, not those of the law firm in which he practices. Read him on-line at www.courier-journal.com; email: jddyche@yahoo.com.
Written by John David Dyche
These are times that try Kentucky Republican souls. As one dispiriting campaign season draws mercifully to a close, another has already begun.
Polls show David Williams — the state’s most effective GOP legislator ever, perhaps Frankfort’s most knowledgeable policy person, and author of a progressive issues platform — trailing incumbent Steve Beshear badly for governor. Why? Williams is not nice enough. Williams would be a strong, progressive Republican governor like Louie Nunn. Revered now, Nunn was not exactly Mister Rogers. But in today’s overly sensitive, touchy-feely society, it is a liability for a politician to possess the personality strength successful leadership requires.
Beshear has done little and aspires to less. He crapped out on expanded gambling. He boasts of balancing state budgets, but needed federal bailout billions to do it. He shamelessly exaggerates job creation facts. He winks at his finance secretary’s improper fund-raising.
“Status Quo Steve” is the antithesis of activist Democratic governors past. He hid behind the troops at Fancy Farm, dodges debates and lacks any agenda. But Beshear matches the mood of voters who disdain government except for their own benefits.
So Kentuckians content with their poor economy, education, health and living standards seem prepared to re-elect Beshear and practically revel in the prospect of four more years of mediocrity. Surrounding states will advance dynamic Republican leadership while Kentucky deservedly stagnates.
As for lieutenant governor, the press relentlessly pounds Republican Richie Farmer while giving Democrat Jerry Abramson a free pass. Farmer opened the door to his demise from folk hero to flame-out with petty mismanagement as agriculture commissioner, but Abramson failed on a grander scale in his last term as Louisville mayor. Inexplicably, he still enjoys immunity from meaningful media scrutiny.
If Democrats do retain power, there should at least be a Republican positioned to exercise oversight. But the GOP auditor candidate, John Kemper, is in personal bankruptcy. Lots of GOP voters will back entrepreneurial Democrat Adam Edelen despite his having been Beshear’s chief of staff.
That leaves attorney general. GOP nominee Todd P’Pool drew impressive Democratic support as Hopkins County prosecutor. He hopes for more now by campaigning against President Obama and brandishing the state Fraternal Order of Police endorsement.
Democratic incumbent Jack Conway is a product of other people’s ambition. He spent most of his term running an awful, losing campaign for U.S. Senate. Now Conway claims, with characteristic insincerity, to have had an epiphany that attorney general is the right place for him after all.
Conway’s visage is inescapable as he inserts himself into almost every public controversy. He bristles at fair questions about his allegedly improper involvement in his brother’s criminal drug investigation, takes credit for cases begun by his predecessor and forgets his failed publicity-seeking suits alleging gasoline price-gouging.
Further down ballot, the Republican secretary of state candidate, tea party automaton Bill Johnson, stands little chance against Democratic rising star Alison Lundergan Grimes. Her ad with her grandmothers is Kentucky’s best since Mitch McConnell’s 1984 “hound dog” spot. Grimes is also easy on the eyes, which seems sexist to say, but is undeniably relevant to success in Kentucky’s superficial politics. Indeed, how else can one credibly explain the ineffectual Conway’s continued viability?
Republicans have an appealing and well-qualified contender of their own in treasurer hopeful K. C. Crosbie. The Lexington councilwoman seeks to unseat Democrat Todd Hollenbach and become the first GOP female elected statewide. Hollenbach enjoys better name recognition, has done nothing to disqualify himself from re-election to the obscure post, and benefits from Beshear’s lead and late campaign clutter on the airwaves.
With trepidation, many Democrats will support the clearly more qualified Republican, James Comer, over Bob Farmer for agriculture commissioner. Comer could emerge as the GOP gubernatorial frontrunner for 2015. The Democratic early line favors a ticket of House Speaker Greg Stumbo and Grimes over an Abramson-Edelen pairing.
The 2012 presidential picture compounds Kentucky Republican frustration. President Obama is failing and vulnerable, but so is the GOP field. Any Republican nominee will win Kentucky, but the fear is that none can win nationally. Kentucky and America both desperately need better executive leadership. Unfortunately for both, Republicans do not appear positioned to provide it.
John David Dyche is a Louisville attorney who writes a political column on alternating Tuesdays in Forum His views are his own, not those of the law firm in which he practices. Read him on-line at www.courier-journal.com; email: jddyche@yahoo.com.
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